The community pub needs an urgent cash injection to pay off debts and reopen with new tenants.
The pub serves as a vital hub for the local community as well as welcoming walkers, cyclists and tourists.
In the sites Go fund me page , Blue Bell Community Hub secretary Charlotte Roberts, said: “Since reopening in 2019 as a not-for-profit, community-run venue, the Blue Bell has quickly become a hub of activity in the heart of Cocking.”
Cocking, near Midhurst, West Sussex saw the reopening of the Blue Bell in December 2019 after it was saved from being turned into a housing development.
Following this reopening, the pub was reintroduced as a community-based village hub.
On the pub’s fundraising site, Roberts explained that when Covid hit, the site had to close in line with Government policy multiple times throughout 2020 and 2021.
Temporarily closed
However, she added that throughout these challenges, the pub still reopened as planned and until recently, has served as a bustling village pub and restaurant, bed and breakfast and café, serving good quality pub food.
The site also served as an information centre for visitors to the South Downs National Park.
The pub is currently temporarily closed while various community groups seek to raise funds to pay off the existing debts at the site and allow new tenants to take over.
Roberts said: “At the moment, the site is entirely still within our control and ownership - we are hopefully only temporarily closed in order to give us time and reduce costs whilst we seek fundraising to take on a prospective tenant.”
She explained that the pub makes a profit but not nearly enough to service the debt incurred when it was purchased: “The Blue Bell does make a profit as a business standing on its own.
“It does not however, provide enough profit for the Community Hub that owns the building to be able to fully service its own debt which arises from the initial purchase set up.”
Roberts acknowledged the harsh effects the pandemic has had on many businesses, but explained she felt the Blue Bell experienced particularly extreme repercussions.
Cash injection needed
She publicly reported: “I know this has affected everyone, but as a new business we have really been hit hard.
“In short, we need to pay our short-term financial commitments to allow us to clear the slate so we can take on tenants who would in turn be able to run their own profitable business in the Blue Bell. That is why we need this current one off cash injection into the Community Hub.”
“As a new business we have really been hit hard”
Currently working with Plunkett UK, an organisation that supports community pub projects which has, according to Roberts, advised her the majority of community owned pubs with tenants do succeed.
Roberts said: “Plunkett UK, who support us and community projects similar to ours, advise that 98% of community owned pubs with tenants succeed hence our desperate need to change our model before we have to close for good. Any help you can give us would be amazing.
“After five years of blood sweat and tears to revive our local community non-profit pub the Blue Bell at Cocking as a community asset we need YOUR help to get over the final hurdle. Without an urgent cash injection of £30,000 our endeavours will have been in vain, and the pub will close forever.”
Roberts revealed that despite the recent economic conditions that have significantly jeopardized the business, she is looking ahead at the new tenants set to take over the site, with hope.
Describing them as “exciting and ready to take over and relaunch.” She continued: “Any donation however small will help us over the finishing line – please help now!”
The group is seeking donations from individuals, businesses and local organisations to help protect this community asset. It is also offering an open shareholding offer.
